In the last 20 years, childhood obesity has increased 54 percent, consequently resulting in overweight teens and adults who lead a lifetime complicated with weight problems, potential medical issues and low self-esteem. The good news is you can effectively impact your entire family’s health and happiness by taking a few steps toward a more active lifestyle. We’ll talk about how you can make positive changes in 2012.

1. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Shiloh Jiwanlal, BA, BSN, MSN, ARNP, PMHCNS-BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Via Christi Behavioral Health

2. How to Survive Holiday Stress
What is stress?
 A normal physical
response to events that
threaten or upset you.
 A trigger from your brain
for attention.
 Response:
 Fight-or-Flight

3. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Stress Response
• Pupils dilate
Physical • Gastrointestinal issues
• Rapid heartbeat / B.P.
• Memory problems
Cognitive • Anxiousness
• Concentration problems
• Overwhelmed feeling
Emotional • Depression
• Short temper
• Changes in eating
Behavioral • Changes in sleep
• Crutches (ie: alcohol)

4. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Toxic Stress
 At a certain
point, stress
starts causing
major damage to
your
health, mood, pro
ductivity, relations
hips and quality of
life.
Image Source: Mental Health America, www.nmha.org

5. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Who gets stressed?
 Parents (35%) are the most consistent group
reporting stress.
 Women (33%) feel more stressed than men
(31%) during the holidays.
 People who have a college degree (24%)
are less stressed.
Source: Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health
Association), 2006, www.nmha.org

6. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Holidays increase stress!

7. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Holiday Stressors
 Finances are the most common source of holiday stress (40%). Parents are more
stressed than all other demographic groups by finances (51%), and females (45%) are more
likely than men to feel stressed by finances.
 37 percent of Americans feel stressed by memories of loved ones who passed away.
Latinos (50%) and African Americans (46%) are most stressed by these
memories, compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (34%).
 Having too much to do causes stress for 34% of people during the holidays. Parents
are more stressed than any other demographic group by too much to do (43%).
Source: Mental Health America formerly known as the National Mental Health
Association), 2006, www.nmha.org

8. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Causes of Holiday Stress:
 Unrealistic expectations
 Excessive gift buying – financial stress
 Parties, cooking, cleaning, etc. – feelings of
being overwhelmed or exhausted
 Personal worth – depression

9. How to Survive Holiday Stress
Top 10 tips for managing stress…
 Manage your stress response
 Set realistic expectations
 Plan ahead
 Set priorities – Set limits
 Manageable “to do list”
 Stick to a budget
 Maintain healthy habits
 Delegate tasks
 Acknowledge your feelings
 Ask for help

10. How to Survive Holiday Stress
When to get help…
 Crisis indicators
 Decline in work or school performance
 Depression, anxiety or withdrawn mood
 Suicidal thoughts
 Physical or emotional abuse
 Self-destructive or dangerous behavior
 Overwhelmed feelings
 Unable to cope with daily life
 Misuse alcohol or drugs

11. How to Thrive Holiday Stress
Thank you